Franklin County Commissioners Recognize Substance Use Prevention Month

Pictured (from left): Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst, Healthy Communities Partnership Coalition and Prevention Coordinator Lynn St. Clair, Health Communities Partnership Executive Director Karen Johnston, Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol (FFDA) Prevention Specialist Katelyn Becker, FFDA Administrator James Eagler, FFDA Deputy Administrator Tobin Kercheval, and Commissioner Bob Ziobrowski

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Franklin County Commissioners have proclaimed October 2024 to be Substance Use Prevention Month in Franklin County. In doing so, the commissioners are urging residents and community leaders to do their part to increase their knowledge of the negative effects of substance use and how prevention strategies are essential to reducing the misuse of drugs and alcohol.

Substance misuse disorders - underage drinking, alcohol dependency, non-medical use of prescription drugs, abuse of over-the-counter medications and illicit drug use - affected approximately 48.7 million Americans in the past year. Locally, an estimated 31,000 Franklin County residents are impacted by substance use and mental health disorders.

Organizations like Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol and Healthy Communities Partnership are working to combat substance use in Franklin County through evidence-based educational programming and information dissemination. Many of their efforts focus on discouraging adolescents from using drugs and alcohol. In fiscal year 2023-2024, Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol, in partnership with Healthy Communities Partnership, reached more than 1,800 local students through prevention programs.

Statistics show that efforts like these are having a meaningful impact on today's youth. According to the 2023 Pennsylvania Area Youth Survey (PAYS), Franklin County adolescents have experienced an 11.7% reduction in lifetime alcohol use, 5.9% decrease in cannabis use, and 12.9% reduction in vaping over a 30-day period. The county has also seen a 78% increase in community engagement in prevention efforts over the past five years.

"These efforts by groups like Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol and Healthy Communities Partnership prove that these programs are having a meaningful impact on our kids and our communities," said Franklin County Commissioner Chairman Dean Horst. "We are pleased to see the growing commitment to prevention efforts in our county, but we know there is still much work that must be done. Substance Use Prevention Month is a great time to celebrate our wins but also a time to urge continued action and awareness"

By recognizing Substance Use Prevention Month, the commissioners are encouraging Franklin County residents to participate in and support programs and initiatives that promote substance use prevention and mental health disorders, not just in October but throughout the year.

For more information on available services through the Franklin/Fulton Drug and Alcohol department, call 717-263-1256 or email [email protected]. Information is also available online at www.franklincountypa.gov.

Individuals seeking immediate help for themselves or for someone they know should call PA Get Help Now at 800-662-4357. For prevention resources, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs website, www.ddap.pa.gov.

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